Beauty on the Front Lines

Ever wonder what a beauty routine in the armed forces looks like? Four servicewomen reveal what they pack in their cosmetic bags when deployed and why

Nails: The Reality Sure, the rules seem a bit stringent when it comes to the range of polish shades, but it's not enough to take away from the comforting ritual of a good old-fashioned mani/pedi in high-stress situations and during bouts of homesickness.

"Combat pedicures were my favorite," says Robson. As a medic, Robson and her tent-mates would pool the goodies sent from home (i.e. nail polish colors, scrubs and foam toe separators) and gave the traditional slumber party mani/pedi an update. "The evolution started with boiling water in an electric tea pot and dragging this tea pot through the area [where] we stabilized patients to the back room used for training/PT/and Sunday pedicures." They used plastic pink basins from their medical supply stash to soak their toes.

The water that they dipped their toes in, however, didn't come from a faucet, but packages of plastic water bottles. "These liter bottles weigh about 6 pounds a package, and you'd always try to carry as many as possible to avoid return visits to the water supply area. So I don't know if you can imagine at least eight plastic liter bottles lined next to four pink basins, candy, nail polish, scrubbing tools scattered on a plywood floor, surrounded by plywood walls, and giggling girls. This was truly the best pedicure a girl could get in Afghanistan."

As for the polish that Robson eagerly waited for in her care packages? "OPI! That stuff is good ... even in heavy boots and 120 degree weather."